Off to the gun show this weekend to replace some 10 year old 9mm 147 Ranger, with some NEW AMMO. May go to 124 +P Ranger if I can find it, other wise I am open to idea for something better for my G3 G-19:wow:

SCmasterblaster

12-02-2011, 19:04

in my G17 is the super powerful Winchester Ranger 115gr JHP +p+. It chronos at 1400 FPS in my G17, and likely 1350 FPS in the slightly shorter G19. It is readily available on line.

I'm partial to Gold Dots or Hornady Critical Defense or TAP. Probably TAP in 9mm since Critical Defense is only available in 115gr.

unit1069

12-02-2011, 20:39

The prices at the gun shows I've been to in the past few years are higher than the premium JHP self-defense ammo available online, including shipping charges to your door.

That said, the default 9mm self-defense ammo seems to be Speer 124-grain Gold Dot +P, with a lot of experienced folks preferring the Winchester 127-grain +P+ over that. At any rate, it seems to be a close call so read up and decide. After all, you can't go wrong buying both and deciding which one you like better.

The Federal 115-grain +P+ 9BPLE is still hanging around after years of great street cred and it's available at around $20/box of 50. Moving on ... there's Federal HST and Tactical Bonded, Remington Golden Saber, Hornady, Cor-Bon, Fiocchi Extrema, specialty ammo companies, etc ... now my head's swimming with all the fine 9mm self-defense ammo out there. I bought so many different ones that I need to shoot most of it up to justify trying out the premium rounds I didn't buy.

I am very partial to Gold Dots. Any caliber they make. I was big on Ranger but I've had some serious quality control issues with Ranger (3 separate incidents) and never an issue with Gold Dot. HST seems pretty good too, and I would still carry my Ranger Talon...after a very close inspection.

Right now both of my 9mm Glocks have 124+P Gold Dots in them.

voiceofreason

12-17-2011, 18:55

I like 124 grain (non +P) HSTs and 147 grain HSTs in either +P or non +P.

I believe Ranger Talon is the best round, but not in 9mm as the 127+p+ recoil is too much for 9mm IMO.

I'd run HST in 9mm, Ranger Talon in .40 & for sure RT in .45

Gold Dots are good as well.

HarleyGuy

12-17-2011, 23:19

As they say, like elbows, most everyone has a couple!

All of my carry guns are loaded with Federal Hydrashocks (sp?).

Glotin

12-18-2011, 01:41

Speer 124GR +P Gold Dots are what I carry after a good deal (of probably unnecessary) research.

At the end of the day, as long as you're going with a premium JHP, the differences are going to be minor compared to your training and shot placement.

However, I hear CorbonPowRball thrown around a lot for whatever reason, and it hasn't done that well in the tests I've seen. Unless you're having feeding problems with JHP there's no reason for it.

kylet

12-18-2011, 02:48

Get the speers :) I love them

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adamc

12-18-2011, 08:15

Ranger 127+P+ or Gold dot 124+P

Either are excellent choices

Misty02

12-18-2011, 10:02

Another good source I've used: http://palmettostatearmory.com/9mm-ammo.php

No taxes, delivery to your door and a flat $12 delivery charge. Not bad when you order in quantity. :)

.

Darkangel1846

12-18-2011, 10:07

Any good grade of SD ammo will work for you...I like Critical Defense.

We are so lucky to live at a time that we have so many choices for defensive/Duty ammo. Every round listed above is so much better than we used to have in the 1990's and earlier.

The modern hp in most cases are designed to work in velocities between 700 fps up to round 1400 fps. Does that bullet care if you are shooting it through a G26 or a long slide G17? Does it care if it is 147 gr or lighter and loaded to +P or +P+? No to both, so long as the bullet reaches the velocity window that it was engineered to work in it is ok.

I can kill something with the rapid expansion of a +P+ bullet. I can also kill with the slower expansion and maybe a bit deeper penetration of a 147gr. In this case velocity numbers are irrelevant to me. The only thing that matters is what the bullet comes in contact with during it path through the body.

larry_minn

12-19-2011, 20:39

I must admit I have not tried any heavier then 125g 9mm in yrs. When they first came out with 147G STHP subsonic and they were the "rage" I picked up a couple boxes. They were LEO only at the time.
I could WATCH the slide retract/brass/chamber new rd. Often the gun would NOT stay open after last rd. (slide was NOT going ALL the way back IMO)
Local Cheif of Police was saying he wanted some. I told him I had a box and a half, sold them to him (did tell him my concerns)
Few months later I ask how he liked them? "ok I guess, I have not fired one yet" So I had to ask. Yep his gun, all spare mags had a unknown/untested rd. :( :( When he did fire them. He changed ammo. Said watching the slide unnerved him.

So is the new stuff worth looking at? I always figured the heavier stuff was better out of longer barrel.

garebel

12-19-2011, 20:42

Speer Gold Dots are like Hallmark greeting cards....

"For when you care enough to send the very best"

cowboy1964

12-19-2011, 21:12

You don't get much more street cred than what Gold Dots have.

Calhoun123

12-20-2011, 16:47

I would not buy anything in 115 gr. I think you need more weight to get adequate penetration.

packinaglock

12-20-2011, 18:35

Gold Dot 124g. is the shiz in 9mm.

Merkavaboy

01-13-2012, 21:20

I would not buy anything in 115 gr. I think you need more weight to get adequate penetration.

It always comes down to personal choice. But let's look at two different 9mm loads, the 115JHP+P+ by either Fed or Win, and the 147JHP by Win.

In FBI gel testing, the 115+P+ loads fail to reach the required 12" penetration depth in gel. And yet the 115+P+ used by the Illinois State PD and other LEAs has had an excellent street record of putting down BGs.

The 147JHP as adopted by the FBI and many other agencies meet and exceed the 12"-16" penetration in gel, and yet this load was and is an erratic performer in real shootings including failures to expand, minimal expansion and dangerous overpenetration in actual shootings.

Two bullets at the opposite ends of both bullet weight and penetration depth in ballistic gel and two different results in actual street results. Depth of penetration is not the Be All End All of bullet performance in real life shootings.

larry_minn

01-13-2012, 23:14

If depends on what you want/need it for. I am comfortable with 115g STHP.

Lord

01-14-2012, 23:36

Off to the gun show this weekend to replace some 10 year old 9mm 147 Ranger, with some NEW AMMO. May go to 124 +P Ranger if I can find it, other wise I am open to idea for something better for my G3 G-19:wow: